What brand is your favorite tape measure?

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Just yesterday I had to buy another tape measure. I stayed with Milwaukee again this time getting the latest 16 foot magnetic tape. I like it, a lot. Big bold numbers, nice coating on the tape and it fits in my hand better than the 25 footer.

I have one of these titanium hammers. Very nice, USA made high quality tool. It’s great but I actually think I prefer a wood handle, they feel more balanced in the hand, so I’m going back to stiletto.

M1 15oz Framing Hammer – Martinez Tools
 
You don't need to swing twice as hard if you have half the weight. I've used these light hammers since the mid 90s. It is surely because of this that I have NO elbow or wrist problems, NO carpal tunnel issues either. Lots of old time Carpenters that I worked around 30 years ago thought that "The heavier, the better" but they also worked in pain and drank a lot! Nail guns are popular now for almost every instance so the hammer is not used nearly as much as it was 30 years ago.
You have more control when swinging less weight. If I have to whack something 3 times instead of once, the three swings still take less energy than the one heavy swing. Think of how this applies to weight lifting. If you can bench press 200 lbs once but also lift 100 25 times, isn't it much easier to lift that 100 lbs 3 or 4 times?
 
As a general contractor that uses tapes daily, I also prefer fat max.
With that said I just don't think any last like they use too !
I have many Stanley 25' tapes some 12' some 16' ,
Fat max 25' and 30' and a Milwaukee 35' .
I would say the most important thing to them lasting is keeping them clean.
When working outside in heavy rain it helps to have a rag to wipe the tape.
One thing that happenscif you don't is it binds up.
Then it has a hard time retracting properly.
More often then not when doing drywall I prefer a 16' tape.
 
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